The First General Meeting of the West Georgia Chapter of GNPS

A group of native plant enthusiasts in western Georgia is pursuing recognition as the West Georgia Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society. On September 23, 2008, the first membership meeting of this group was held at the Carrollton Ag Center in Carrollton.

Turnout for this initial meeting was excellent and about half of those attending are already GNPS members. There were also a number of people who signed up as new members.

The meeting was led by WH Smith, the head of the Steering Committee, organized to get the chapter going. Marcia Winchester, the current GNPS President, spoke about GNPS, its goals and activities. Afterward Sheri George, Plant Rescue Regional Coordinator for West and North Metropolitan Atlanta, spoke to the group about the plant rescue program.

During the meeting, officers were elected for the chapter's board. The board is expected to formally apply to GNPS for chapter status before the end of 2008.

With the election of board members, the steering committee was dissolved.

Toward the end of the meeting a number of donated plants were raffled off.

	The folks at the Ag Center really made us feel welcome!		Attendance was excellent
	More of the Attendees		Vicki Lloyd at the membership table
	Marcia and Sheri answer questions from the audience		Chapter Board Members Front (L-R) Vicki Lloyd (Treasurer), Gail Woody (Secretary), Gina Strickland (President) Back, Flo Hayes (Vice President), Mike Strickland (Co-Chair Plant Rescue Committee), James Dickinson (Chair Program Committee), Wendell Hoomes (Co-Chair Plant Rescue Committee), Kathy Howell not pictured (Chair Education Committee)
	Steering Committee Members Front (L-R): Vicki Lloyd, Gina Strickland, Vickie Ring Back: Flo Hayes, Mike Strickland, WH Smith, Wendell Hoomes		Wendell (L) and Mike tell attendees about the plants to be raffled
	WH (L) and Vickie drawing raffle winners

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